For example, natural holes on the rock normally have rounded edges but man-made carvings in rock usually have rather sharp edges around the holes. This knowledge can be encoded thanks to the new technique.

Digital cemetery

The database of 3D scan data can also be mapped onto other datasets, such as geographical information systems, historical weather databases and high-fidelity models of archaeological sites.

In addition to discovering who is buried in the cemetery, Dr Cai's team is developing a digital cemetery for Old St. Luke's Church in order to help visualise the scanned data.

It will be available for internet browsers, on DVD and interactive computer demos.

The researchers believe the technology will also have practical applications in other industry sectors, such as the security and medical fields.

Dr Cai said: "We may use the technology for the future UAVs (Unmanned Aviation vehicles) to detect ground signatures of ancient ruins and help medical doctors to diagnose patients' well-being through tongue inspection."

The technology could also be used to predict a possible tsunami by examining the patterns on the surface of the world's oceans.